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ALPINE SHE-OAK SKINK Cyclodomorphus Praealtus Endangered

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ALPINE SHE-OAK SKINK Cyclodomorphus Praealtus Endangered Zoos Victoria’s Fighting Extinction Species ALPINE SHE-OAK SKINK Cyclodomorphus praealtus Endangered Zoos Victoria is committed to saving the Zoos Victoria is working to develop Alpine She-oak Skink. Working closely with the husbandry techniques for Alpine She-oak Department of Environment, Land, Water and Skinks while committing to a targeted focus Planning we are developing conservation actions on improving knowledge of wild populations. for this endangered skink who’s restricted and Our strategy is this species only contingency fragmented distribution has left this species plan should a wild population come under increasingly vulnerable to extinction. immediate risk of extinction. Zoos Victoria is committed to Fighting Extinction We are focused on working with partners to secure the survival of our priority species before it is too late. The mountain habitats of the Alpine She-oak Skink are so isolated that they are sometimes described as ‘sky islands’ – each mountain top is separated from the others by a ‘sea’ of lower-altitude habitat that is unsuitable for these little skinks. Such isolation means that any threat could devastate the population and make it difficult for any remaining skinks to survive. If there is a catastrophic disturbance to the skinks’ alpine habitat, Zoos Victoria will be ready to implement a recovery program and ensure the survival of this endangered species. KEY PROGRAM OBJECTIVES THE PLAN • Better understand the extent of wild The following critical next steps will enable Zoos habitat and investigate the feasibility of Victoria, along with our partners to move forward How can I help? establishing new wild populations. knowing that we are doing everything we can to • Better understand captive husbandry. prevent the extinction of this species: We are currently developing husbandry and breeding • Maintain wild populations across their Wild monitoring of known $160,000 current range. populations. techniques and progressing • Raise community awareness of the Survey new habitat to better Alpine She-oak Skink and the need to field knowledge for this understand Victorian distribution conserve alpine environments. $220,000 of species, including on the species, but we still need PROGRAM OUTCOMES Wellington Plains. all the support we can • Establishment of new long term Analyse Alpine She-oak Skink get. Support our Wildlife genetic samples to determine monitoring grids. $20,000 Conservation Master Plan • Continued annual monitoring. feasibility of short-distance translocation for genetic rescue. • Collection of wild animals to investigate 2019-2024 by donating at: Analyse data to determine captive husbandry. $5,000 p.a zoo.org.au/donate population trends. Alpine She-oak Skinks are being cared for and displayed at Healesville Sanctuary. Our reptile Develop and implement a $110,000 specialists are developing suitable husbandry translocation/recovery strategy. and breeding techniques for this unique species Activations at our zoos and online as we continue to learn more about them. PROGRAM PARTNERS that aim to increase community care and knowledge of the skink $10,000 Arthur Rylah Institute THE SPECIES and generate support for the ari.vic.gov.au When under threat, Alpine She-oak Skinks exhibit conservation projects. Department of Environment, a snake-like defence behaviour. With slender Land, Water and Planning bodies reaching up to 12cm in length, they tuck Total cost over five years $545,000 delwp.vic.gov.au in their reduced limbs, rear their head up, hold out their tongue and flick the tip as a snake does. Falls Creek There is still much to learn about the life-history fallscreek.com.au of the Alpine She-oak Skink but animals are Mt Hotham thought mature at 2-3 years of age and live for 5 mthotham.com.au years. Adults give birth to 2-9 young in mid-late summer. The species hibernates over the winter. Currently the major threats to Alpine She-oak Skinks are: • Habitat destruction from Alpine development. • Wildfire. • Negative habitat impacts associated with introduced pests such as feral horses and deer. Find out more zoo.org.au/fightingextinction.
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